Horse-releaser.



H. WARFIELD.

HORSE RELEASER.

APPLICATION FILED 0018, 1910.

1,047,350, Patented Dec. 17,1912.

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H. WARFIELD.

HORSE RELEASER.

APPLICATION FILED 0012s, 1910.

1,047,350. Patented De.17,191 2.

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HENRY WARFIELD, OF NORTH TOPEKA, KANSAS.

HORSE-RELEASER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17,1912.

Application filed October 8, 1910. Serial No. 586,029.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY WARFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse-Releasers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to horse detachers, and the principal object of the same is to provide a horse detacher in which there is provided a rotatably mounted whiffletree, with which the traces or smaller whitfletrees are connected and which are released by turning the whiffletree so that the hooks which h old the traces, or smaller whiftletrees will be turned to permit the traces or whiflietree to slip out. The whiflietree is provided with a longitudinally extending strip which is at the rear of the whiifietree when it is in normal position. The whifl'letree is mounted in an eye-bolt pivotally mounted in the tongue or bar connecting the shafts and passes through the arch formed at the center of the longitudinally extending strip so that longitudinal movement of the whiltletree in the eye-bolt will be prevented.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a wagon, showing the whiffletree in its normal position. Fig. 2 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in vertical section of the device shown in Fig. 1 with the whiflietree shown in its normal position, the dotted lines indicating the position of the Whittle tree when rotated to release the small whittletrees. Fig. 3 is a top view showing the whiflletree used in connection with the vehicle having shafts instead of a pole. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the whiffletree.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that this invention is used in connection with a vehicle 1, which may be provided with a pole 2, or with shafts 22 which are connected by a bar 21. The pole 2, or bar 21 is provided with an opening 2 so that the stem of the eye-bolt 6 may be pivotally mounted, the eye-bolt being held in place by means of a key 14 which passes through openings 18 formed in the ends of the eye-bolt 6.

The whiflietree 3 is provided with an opening 3' to each side of its center and is provided between the openings 3 with an annular groove forming a seat 4 in which there is mounted a reinforcing and wearing band 5.

A longitudinally extending groove is formed in the whiflietree and intersects the seat 4, a reinforcingstrip 7 being placed in the longitudinal groove and secured in place by suitable screws or nails. The central portion of the strip 7 is bowed to form the arch 8 which limits the longitudinal movement of the whitfletree through the eye-bolt 6. This eye-bolt surrounds the band 5 and passes through the arch 8 and thus forms a stop to limit the longitudinal movement of the whiflletree. Collars 9 are placed upon the ends of the whiifletree overlapping the ends of the strip 7 so that there is provided additional securing means for holding the strip in place. Hooks 10 are driven into the ends of the whiffietree and when the whiifletree is in normal position, have their open end facing toward the vehicle so that when in use the traces 20, or swingletrees 19 cannot slip loose. A strip of rod metal is bent to form an eye 11 having arms 12 extending therefrom, the arms 12 passing through the openings 3 and being held in place by the nuts 12 screwed upon their threaded ends. This eye 11 is located just above the arch 8 and is engaged by a bar 15 so that when desired the whillletree may be rotated in the eye-bolt 6. This bar 15 passes through an opening 16, formed in the vehicle and has its inner end connected with a lever 17 mounted in the vehicle. A rack 18 is mounted in the vehicle adjacent the lever so that the lever may be held in an adjusted position.

When this device is in use the traces or small whitlletrees are connected with the hooks 10, the whiflietree 3 being in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. If the draft animals become unruly and run away the lever is thrown forwardly to the position indicated by the dotted lines and the whittletree 3 will be rotated in the eye-bolt so that the hooks will be turned to a position to permit the small whiflietrees, or traces to be released from the hooks, thus disconnecting the draft animals from the vehicle.

From an inspection of Fig. 4 it will be seen that this construction permits the whiliietree to have the pivotal movement necessary and at the same time be rotated, since the trace or small whiflietree swings from the hook. It will also be evident that the arch 8 gives the whifiletree allof the freedom of movement necessary and at the same time limits thelongitudinal movement of the Whiflietree in the eyebolt. It will also be seen that the arms which lead from the eye 11 and pass through the Whiflletree form a very strong connection between the bar 15 and the whifl'letree so that the whiffletree may be readily rotated in the eyebolt. It will also be noted that the bracing strip 7 extends along the rear face of the whiflletree when the whitl'letree is in its normal position and thus the strain is to a certain extent, taken off the whifl'letree thus making the whiflietree stronger and less liable to break.

vVhat I claim is:

In a horse releaser, a whiflletree provided intermediate its length with a circumferential seat and with a longitudinally extending seat intersecting said circumferential seat and with openings formed through said whiffletree at each side of said circumferential seat, a wearing band seated in said circumferential seat, an eye bolt having its eye surrounding said band, the stem of said eye-bolt being adapted to pivotally mount said eye-bolt, a bracing strip seated in said longitudinally extending seat and having its central portion crimped to form an arch through which said eye-bolt passes, the arch limiting the longitudinal movement of said eye-bolt upon said whiflietree, a length of rod metal bent to form an eye having arms extending therefrom through said bracing strip and through the openings in said whiffletree, screwing means at the outer end of said arms, a sleeve at each end of said whiffietree overlapping the end of said strip, a hook at each end of said whitiletree, an operating lever, and a bar connecting said lever with said last mentioned eye whereby movement of said lever will rotate said whiifletree in said eye-bolt.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY /VARFIELD. Witnesses: HARRY H. PETIR, J. A. SHEETZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner. of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

